The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-05-27
THE NEW SOUTH.

Judge Kelly Again Descants Upon the
Prosperity, Present aud Prospective q
the Southern states-DlversiHsd Art
cnlture Replacing the All Cotton Regime
and vleinG with the Mineral industries.
WASHINGTON, May 1s-Congressman
Kelly, of Pennsylvania, who has Just 10
turned to Washington from an extended
tour through some Of the Southern States,
begun last March. in an interview with q
Star reporter, records his observances Of
progress in that section Of the country,
and predicts great future for the new
South. Mr.. Kelly said:
'In 1879, when l visited Florida, the peo-
pie there seemed to be without hope or
aspiration; but for the last six or seven
years the State has taken a position in
the front ranks Of the new South. The
people are energetic, alert and confident
of the future. From Kissemmee City
and Rock Ledge, l visited farms on
the lands reclaimed by the drainage COM
pany, and on native alluvial fields. and
after a careful inspection am prepared
to say that Florida is destined to a high
rank among the agricultural States Of the
Union. The rich soil is being intelligent
ly cultivated with great profit.
When / left Florida, it was for a season
Of rest at Admission, Ala, one Of the new
cities that has grown up IN tho mineral
regions. From Admission l made excur-
sion to other towns in Alabama, and in
Georgia. After a months stay in Annis-
ton turned my steps toward Tennessee,
and passed ten days most pleasantly at
South Pittsburgh, which, as Admission
has just done, will soon surprise the coun.
try by esta blishing itself - an industr ial
centre of large proportions and great &C.
tivity.
Everywhere throughout the mineral re-
giOns Of the South, enterprise and pros.
perity are moving hand in hand. Nor is
this prosperity of the new South confined
to its mineral regions. Though the pow
erty and listlessness which characterized
the poor people of the old South still pre-
walls to considerable extent in her cot
ton fields, there is large leaven Of en-
terprise and improvement which issrapidly
curing that. Those who have caught the
spirit of progress, do not longer pillow
their fields with single mule plows. They
have learned the value of deep blowing
and of following the chill pillow by heavy
subsoil pillow. They continue to grow
some cotton, but not upon the surface Of
exhausted fields, and they diversity their
crops. l am speaking now Of the pro-
gressivc agriculturalists, the representa-
tives Of the new South. Instead Of the
crop of cotton they have fields of wheat
rye, clover and other crops, and to save
their old time 'guano' bills, as they call
their bills for manufactured fertilizers.
they turn under green crops, and aid that
with manure from sleek and wellfed
herds of cattle.
The great boom Of the South is near at
hand, and it will not be confined to the
mineral regions of that richest section of
our country, but will include the agri-
cultural regions as WELL"
In response to questions, Judge Kelly
said that the evidences of progressive
farming were not confined to any State
or county, but were visible in places all
over the South. In the vicinity of the
rapidly developing mineral regions, he
says, the farms are models Of good
management and thrift. Within four
miles of Admission, Ala, he saw one of the
finest herds of Jersey cattle, and one of
the largest and cleanest diaries he had
ever inspected. 1t was built up and
owned by a native of Alabama. Near
Rome, Ga, he saw herds of cattle and
diaries that would do credit to Pennsyl-
vania or New York.
Judge Kelly says the farmers and
planters Of the South are fast learning
that, in devoting themselves to cotton
Only, they are simply competing with
each other, and Cutting the market year
after year by over production. He is
very enthusiastic about the future of the
South and closed the interview with tho
assertion that the agricultural develop
ment Of this section would yet astound
the country.